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Law Murray:LeBron James: "None of us know what the future holds... and I don't either. Like I said, I'll take time to recalibrate and see what's best for my future"
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype:LeBron James: "None of us know what the future …
David Allan Coe, who has died aged 86, was a maverick country music singer known for his wild tales of prison life and working-class anthems You Never Even Called Me by My Name and Take This Job and Shove It; he was a pioneer of the “outlaw” movement which bristled against Nashville’s conservatism and conformism.
A broad, physically intimidating man who could often rub people up the wrong way, Coe arrived in the Tennessee city in 1967, keen to make it as a country music star despite being a self-declared “long-haired redneck” (though the flowing mane that was a feature of his later stage shows was a 3ft-long blonde wig).
He lived for a time in a hearse, perpetually parked outside the Ryman Auditorium, where he would don elaborate rhinestone outfits and a Lone Ranger-style mask and busk for gullible passers-by who believed he had just come off stage.
Six years after arriving in Music City, Coe hit the big time thanks to Tanya Tucker’s cover of Would You Lay With Me (in a Field of Stone), which went to No 1 in the country charts. Coe signed with Columbia and released his major-label debut, The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy, in 1974. It included I Still Sing the Old Songs, and a cover ofGuy Clark’s country staple Desperados Waiting for the Train (later popularised by the Highwaymen supergroup consisting of Coe’s fellow outlawsWaylon Jennings, Willie Nelson,Johnny CashandKris Kristofferson).
But it was the album Once Upon a Rhyme, released a year later, that gave Coe his imperishable hit, You Never Even Called Me by My Name. Written by Steve Goodman andJohn Prine, it was a self-knowing send-up of honky tonk stereotypes involving trucks, beer and dysfunctional families: “I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison/ And I went to pick her up in the rain/ But before I could get to the station in my pick-up truck/ She got runned over by a damned old train”. The song remains a jukebox staple in bars across the Southern US, and lived up to its cocky, spoken-word interlude declaring it the “perfect country and Western song”.
That bristling self-assuredness inflected all of Coe’s music, from his Hank Williams-inspired journeyman epic The Ride in 1983 to Son of the South (1986), in which he reels off a list of his all-time favourite artists – Hank Williams Jr, the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “David Allan Coe” himself – and, finally, Willie, Waylon and Me (1987), in which he muscled in on Nelson and Jennings’s famous friendship.
It was a pointed dig at his fellow outlaws whom he considered more a part of the country music establishment; those peers, for their part, often suggested that Coe had a tendency to self-mythologise – and at points he claimed to have more than 300 tattoos, and be a practising Mormon and a polygamist.
Jennings in particular struggled with Coe’s abrasive, confrontational edge, and once said he would “stab you in the back and then ride off your name like he’s your best friend.”Shelby Singleton, the producer who discovered Coe, told Rolling Stone in 1976 that “Ninety per cent of what he tells you is probably bulls***t.”
Coe took issue with those who refused to acknowledge his influence: he was the first mainstream country artist to have an all-female backing band, Ladysmith (a milestone which was later wrongly attributed to Dolly Parton’s early collaborator Porter Wagoner).
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David Allan Coe was born on September 6 1939 to Donald Coe and Dorothy, née Wilson, in Akron, Ohio, an industrial city then known as the Rubber Capital of the World. His childhood was impoverished and unhappy, ruled by his violent, drunken father, who worked at Goodyear Tires, and he was sent to a reform facility aged nine.
Two decades in correctional facilities followed, including three years at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, where he faced charges for grand theft auto and possession of burglary tools. He later claimed that, while incarcerated, he killed a fellow inmate with a mop bucket after the inmate made homosexual advances in the communal showers, but this was later debunked; he also met the shock-rock pioneer Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, of I Put A Spell on You fame, who encouraged him to start singing.
Prison left its mark on Coe: his first album, Penitentiary Blues, was released in 1970. Five years later, he reflected on how he had found solace in the system: “There were a lot of times when I would actually be in the county jail after being busted and I’d wake up the next morning and say to myself: ‘Oh I’m glad it’s over; I’m glad I’m going back to prison now, where I know I’ll be safe, where I’ll be out of society.’”
It was a fellow outlaw pioneer who earned Coe his most lucrative hit. In 1977, the aptly namedJohnny Paycheckhad a No 1 with a cover of Coe’s blue-collar anthem Take This Job and Shove It, which inspired the 1981 film of the same name, starring Robert Hays andArt Carney.
Coe’s commercial success began to plateau following his controversial albums Nothing Sacred (1978) and Underground Album (1982) – later reissued together as 18 X-Rated Hits – which were criticised for containing racist slurs and sexist stereotypes. Coe addressed the controversy in 2004, telling the website Swampland: “Anyone that would look at me and say I was a racist would have to be out of their mind.” It was not until his 1983 album Castles in the Sand – which contained The Ride – that Coe was welcomed back into the fold in Nashville.
Decades of obscure albums and purposely uncommercial projects ensued, including a pornographic novel. Late-life Coe was known mostly for his wizened, plaited beard and angry stage presence, as well as collaborations with the metal band Pantera and fellow country controversy-magnet, Kid Rock.
His final two decades were marred by financial struggles. In 2007, there were reports that he owed more than $290,000 in child support to his ex-wife Jody Lynn Coe (he was married six times), with whom he shares four children, including the country music podcaster Tyler Mahan Coe. Coe pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 2015 and was sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to repay almost $1 million to the authorities.
He is survived by his sixth wife, Kimberley.
David Allan Coe, born September 6 1939, died April 29 2026
Louisiana Economic Development announced Marks Construction in Donaldsonville was among the five businesses honored at the 2026 Spotlight Louisiana Awards in Baton Rouge.
Owner Jay Marks and his family were in attendance as his company received the statewide award for Small and Emerging Business of the Year.
"Construction is about more than the things we can see," he saidin a videoshared to LED's YouTube page. "It's about the things we can feel, and about the progress and the memories we make."
Previously a strength and conditioning coach for the Tulane University football team in New Orleans, Marks said in the video he made a leap of faith to start a construction business.
As he recalled, the first years were not easy.
"But I had a praying wife, and I had a state in Louisiana that believed in me," Marks said in the video. "And we have not looked back."
As the business has grown, it has no longer been limited to taking small jobs.
"I want to establish something that my own children will be proud to operate one day because family is my why," he said. "This isn't just about projects to me. It's about legacy. And excellence - that's our standard. I always told my players, 'When we focus on the details and the fundamentals, the results will speak for themselves. And now my team approaches every job with strong discipline, clear communication and a championship mindset."
He concluded, "At Marks Construction, we're not just making homes and buildings, we are building community."
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The awards ceremony celebrated five companies whose innovation, leadership and investment have created opportunity throughout the state, according to an LED news release.
The Louisiana Growth Network, a division of LED, celebrates the event annually to recognize entrepreneurs and employers leading the state's economic momentum.
"As a former small business owner, I know what it takes to build something from the ground up," Gov. Jeff Landry said in the release. "The companies recognized at Spotlight Louisiana represent the hard work, innovation and determination moving Louisiana forward, and my administration is committed to making sure Louisiana small businesses are connected to the opportunities being created across our state."
Per the release, small businesses employ 54 percent of the state's workforce.
The 2026 Spotlight Louisiana award winners were:
Small and Emerging Business of the Year, Marks Construction, Donaldsonville
Excellence in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Additive Innovators, New Iberia
Innovative Company of the Year, OS BENEFiTS, New Orleans
Source Louisiana Vendor of the Year, Parish Aggregates, Baton Rouge
Spotlight Louisiana Business of the Year, Fire & Safety Specialists, Maurice
Parter awards recognized businesses and small businesses whose work reflected the reach of the state's small business support network, which included:
Louisiana APEX Accelerator Government Contractor of the Year, Tunica-Biloxi Services, LLC, Marksville
Louisiana Small Business Development Center Excellence in Business Award, Apocalypse Sports, Ponchatoula
National Federation of Independent Business Louisiana Small Business Champion, Lott Oil Company, Natchitoches
SBA champions included:
Entrepreneurial Success Award, Sweet Kravings Donuts, Gray
Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, Washington Building Services, New Orleans
Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year, Miles for Smiles LLC, Shreveport
Women in Business Champion, Hatten & Hays Mobile Bookstore LLC, Monroe
Rural Small Business of the Year, Summit Bike Academy, Ponchatoula
Small Business Development Center of Excellence and Innovation Award, LSBDC at Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond
Small Business Person of the Year, Jordanna and Louis Coleman Sr., LC Transport Services LLC, Prairieville
Michael Tortorich is a journalist for the USA Today Network in Louisiana.
Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow atfacebook.com/WeeklyCitizenandfacebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.
This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen:Donaldsonville business awarded Small and Emerging Business of Year
Tiffani Thiessenrose to stardom onSaved by the Bellin her teens as Kelly Kapowski, and now her young daughter looks just like her.
Thiessen, 52, played the iconic Bayside High cheerleader on the beloved teensitcomfrom 1989 to 1993, and continued her role as Kapowski on the short-lived seriesSaved by the Bell: The College Years. Her character finally married Zack Morris inSaved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegasin 1994. (Yes, over 30 years ago!) Of course, her post-Saved by the Bellyears led Thiessen not too far away from Bayside High. She landed onBeverly Hills, 90210as the troublemaker Valerie Malone, where she caused chaos for 5 seasons before departing. These days, Thiessen is thriving as a social media influencer and actress known for sharing her delicious recipes online. However, the proud mama took to Instagram for Mother's Day to celebrate her favorite role: mother.
"My most cherished role…. being their mother ❤️ Happy Mother’s Day to all who nurture, mentor, and love," Thiessen captioned the photo, which showed her alongside her children,HarperandHolt. One look at her daughter, Harper, and it's safe to say the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Her daughter could play Kelly Kapowski in a newSaved by the Bellreboot!
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Saved by the Bellwas back in action… for a short amount of time, at least. A reboot of the series aired on Peacock for two seasons from November 2020 to December 2021, and starred Thiessen as her beloved character, who was still married to her longtime love, Zack Morris. However, the reboot didn’t stick. When asked if she thought another one was possible, Thiessen spoke candidly.
“I don’t think so. I think they tried it,” she toldPEOPLElast year. Even though it didn’t last, Thiessen made it clear she “loved the reboot.”
“It only lasted two seasons, sadly,” she added. “[But] who knows? There are other shows that are in my sort of realm that are further along in possibly getting a reboot.”
Related: ‘Saved by the Bell’ Star Tiffani Thiessen Turns 52 and Is Even More Stunning Than Her Kelly Kapowski Days
This story was originally published byParadeon May 11, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.
Spoiler alert! We're breaking down what happens in"Mortal Kombat II"(in theaters now) and detailing all of the movie's shocking deaths, so turn away if you haven't seen it yet and don't want to know what happens.
They don't call itmortalkombat for nothing.
"Mortal Kombat II," the latest moviebased on the fighting video games, is every bit the bloodbath fans would expect for a series famous for its extremely graphic fatalities. Several characters are killed off throughout the new movie, some minor and a few shockingly major, although the ending implies not all of the deaths will be permanent.
So who makes it to the end of this bloody fighting tournament unscathed, who bites the dust, and what does it all mean for a possible sequel? Let's break it down.
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A few significant characters don't survive their fights in "Mortal Kombat II," but by far the most surprising death isCole Young (Lewis Tan).
After all, Cole was the lead character of theprevious "Mortal Kombat" movie. This time, though, he's already somewhat sidelined by the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), and then he's stunningly killed during a fight with Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who defeats him and crushes his head.
Not long after, Jax Briggs (Mehcad Brooks) bites it in a separate fight with Shao Kahn, who brutally impales him with his hammer.
Kung Lao (Max Huang) also dies in a delightfully gruesome fashion at the end of a one-on-one fight with Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), who kills him using Lao's own spinning blade. Later, Liu Kang himself seemingly dies in a showdown with Shao Kahn, although his fate is kept a bit more vague. He disappears into the sky at the end of the fight, declaring he is going on a journey to bring Kung Lao back. Regardless, it's safe to say the character will return, and based on what he says, Kung Lao probably will, too.
Other deaths in the movie include King Jerrod (Desmond Chiam), Kitana's (Adeline Rudolph) father, who is murdered in the opening sequence in a battle with Shao Kahn. Jerrod's fingers are cut off before he's impaled in front of a crowd, including a distraught Kitana. But she has her revenge in the end, facing off against Shao Kahn and gloriously slicing up his head using her fan blades.
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And let's not forget Queen Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen), who dies after falling on spikes in a brawl with Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee). Her death doesn't stick, as she is quickly resurrected.
If you thought their gruesome deaths were the last we've seen of all these characters, think again. The movie ends with the implication that the most notable heroes who died in "Mortal Kombat II" will be revived in a sequel.
"Mortal Kombat II" already brought back characters who died in the previous film, including Kano (Josh Lawson), who is resurrected by necromancer Quan Chi (Damon Herriman). The movie ends with Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) gathering the survivors of the tournament to declare that they have lost too many champions, and it's time to bring them home. "Let's go get our friends," Sonya says.
"Mortal Kombat III" will seemingly involve Raiden, Johnny and the rest seeking to revive Cole and Jax, with Liu Kang off on his own mission to bring back Kung Lao.
While it's implied that Cole will return, his death may at least make him a less prominent character next time. The ending suggests the sequel would focus on the surviving heroes, and it would presumably take them some time to successfully locate and revive him. This may come as good news to some fans. Cole, who was created for the movies and is not featured in the original video games, was a divisive character in the 2021 "Mortal Kombat," with some fans arguing someone from the games should have been the main protagonist instead.
No, there are no credits scenes in "Mortal Kombat II." The ending with Raiden and the others is all fans get in terms of a tease for a sequel.
Yes, a third "Mortal Kombat" movie is already in the works and was officially announced atNew York Comic Conin October. During apanel at the convention, screenwriter Jeremy Slater revealed that the studio is "so convinced that there is a giant fan base" for "Mortal Kombat II" that they "have already hired me to start writing the next installment."
That being said, Slater urged fans to turn out for "Mortal Kombat II," as a third movie is still dependent on how well the new one performs. "When 'II' comes out in theaters, make sure they know there is an audience for this movie, because we want to keep making them for you guys," he said.
Although it took five years for "Mortal Kombat II" to come out, production on the film was delayed by the2023 Hollywood actors strike, so it's reasonable to assume a third movie won't take as long. Assuming "Mortal Kombat II" doesn't tank in theaters, moviegoers should be ready to insert some more quarters.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Mortal Kombat 2' spoilers – Who dies? Will there be a sequel?
TheCrewexpectmidfielder André Gomesto play against New York City FC on May 10 at Yankee Stadium, but he's technically considered questionable along withdefender Malte Amundsenandforward Jamal Thiaré.
More:Columbus Crew 2026 Leagues Cup kickoff times revealed. See here
Gomes, a lineup regular, was injured April 18 in a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution and has missed three games with a calf issue.
Thiaré sustained an apparent knee injuryin a 4-1 victory over One Knoxville SCon April 29 in a U.S. Open Cup match andmissed a 3-2 loss to Minnesota Unitedon May 2 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.Crew coach Henrik Rydstromalso said Thiaré is dealing with a "cough."
Amundsen played the first half against Minnesota before leaving with a hamstring issue that Rydstrom has stopped short of calling an injury. Amundsen was replaced by Yevhen Cheberko at the start of the second half, which contributed to the Crew changing its tactics in a gutting loss that included them allowing three straight goals off set pieces.
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"It was no injury," Rydstrom said. "He felt [something] in his hamstring, and that also made it a little bit ... he has been very, very important for our game, so we didn't have a quite natural replacement for him."
Rydstrom was asked about injuries during a special May 5 training session for supporters at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and initially said Amundsen wouldn't play against NYCFC. He quickly walked that back, saying Amundsen, Gomes and Thiaré are each being re-evaluated daily.
Gomes, however, has returned to full training and should play in New York. StrikerWessam Abou Aliis out for the season following ACL surgery to repair a knee injury.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedgercan be reached atbhedger@dispatch.comand@BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch:Columbus Crew injury updates at NYCFC include Gomes, Amundsen
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Rebels inCongosay the United States has fallen short as a mediator inefforts to end the conflictin the African country's mineral-rich east as the Trump administration seeks to open the region’scritical reserves to the U.S. government and American companies.
According to a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio from Congolese rebel leader Corneille Nangaa, Washington has failed to pressure Congo’s government over its alleged violations of peace commitments.
The letter, seen by The Associated Press on Saturday, was signed by the Congo River Alliance, which includes theRwanda-backed M23rebel group.
Congo and Rwanda agreed last year to aU.S.-mediated peace dealaimed at ending the long-running conflict in eastern Congo, an accord that woulddefine terms of economic partnershipinvolving the three countries and unlock deals on rare earth minerals.
At the time, U.S. PresidentDonald Trumppraised the leaders of the two nations — PresidentsFelix Tshisekediof Congo andPaul Kagameof Rwanda. Trump has since often cited his success in negotiating the deal. However, fighting in the region continues, with both rebel and government forces accusing each other of violating peace terms.
The letter to Rubio also criticized the U.S. for sanctioning “actors critical of the authorities in power” in Kinshasa, Congo's capital — a reference toU.S. sanctions on former Congolese President Joseph Kabilalast week over his alleged role in funding and supporting to the rebels. Earlier this year, Washington also sanctionedRwanda's military and four of its senior officialsfor supporting M23.
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“Your administration has neither imposed any sanctions nor issued even a simple warning to the leaders in Kinshasa, whose intransigent and arrogant attitude calls into question the impartiality and neutrality of the American Facilitator/Mediator," the letter said.
"The absence of clearly identifiable corrective measures fuels questions regarding the facilitation’s ability to preserve, over time, the requirements of impartiality and neutrality that are essential to its credibility,” it added.
Congo, the U.S. and U.N. expertsaccuse Rwanda of backing M23, which has grown from hundreds of members in 2021 to around 6,500 fighters, according to the United Nations.
Eastern Congo has been battered by decades of unrest as government forces fight more than 100 armed groups,the most potent being M23, often overaccess to its mineral riches. M23 fighters made a major advance into the region early last year, seizing Goma and other key cities as they quickly expanded their presence.
While U.S. mediation has helped cool regional tension it has not stopped the escalating fighting on the ground, Kristof Titeca, a professor at the University of Antwerp specialized in governance and conflict in Central Africa, told the AP.
Mwanamilongo reported from Bonn, Germany.
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